9/9/21, 5:25 PM (1) Why do mosques use loudspeakers for Call to Prayer (Adhan)?

dhan)? Why does Hindu majority country India tolerate this when Christ…

Why do mosques use loudspeakers for Call to Prayer (Adhan)? Why does
Hindu majority country India tolerate this when Christian majority
country USA will not?
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6 Answers

Liaquat Khan, I know the Muslim mindset

Updated August 22, 2019 · Upvoted by Shahreyar Yawar, Been living in India since
2000

Wrong assumptions in the question. The West which includes USA does not see it as
an issue involving religion. Instead, it’s a civic issue. It’s about ‘noise pollution’, not just
‘Adhan’. Many in USA or in other western countries may not even have heard the word
‘Adhan’. To them any unwanted audio waves constitute ‘noise’ and it’s not acceptable.
You can use loudspeakers within your premises but you cannot raise the decibels to
cause nuisance to your neighborhood residents. All mosques, churches, temples,
Gurudwaras and even late night concerts have to follow these rules.

As the saying goes, “your freedom ends where my nose begins”. You are free to use
loudspeakers but keep the sound waves under control, else you encroach on others’
freedom to have a peaceful sleep.

I am sure India too has necessary laws to curb any source of noise but just as the
enforcement authorities are lax in implementing other laws, so is the case with this
one. This problem can be tackled easily if every citizen has the sense to respect civic
liberty of other citizens. Keep religion out of this issue, just don’t mention it and
there’s a greater chance, you’ll fix it.

PS Edit: Comments section shows that some people still look at the issue of ‘noise
pollution’ as either ‘religious’ or ‘political’. Let’s face it - India is lax about combating
any kind of pollution, be it ‘air pollution’or ‘water pollution’. With our thoughtless
routine actions we put the health and lives of millions of our people in jeopardy and
nobody bothers. We have a high ‘tolerance’ and ‘adjustability’ for all sorts of
irregularities. If tap water is not drinkable we don’t mind spending a few bucks on
bottled water. It’s okay for us to cover our nose and keep driving our bikes in toxic
conditions.

Many of us may not know that Australian airports impose a curfew from 11:00 pm to
6:00 am which means no aircraft is allowed to land or take off during this time. That’s

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9/9/21, 5:25 PM (1) Why do mosques use loudspeakers for Call to Prayer (Adhan)? Why does Hindu majority country India tolerate this when Christ…

to give the residents a peaceful sleep. In India, International airports are more busy at
night than during day time.

In the noise and din that we live in, ‘Adhan’ is just one source of noise pollution. Let’s
address the entire issue and it can be done through civic awareness which has to be
cultivated through education. Curriculum planners need to take cognizance of these
issues.
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Paruchuri S Prasad, former Self Employed

Answered August 17, 2019

While the mosques’ azans or adhans are quite irritating, particularly in the morning, I

dread Hindu festivals like Ganesh Puja and Bonalu for the continuous blare of music in
full pitch. In our colony I actually protested the loud playing of suprabhatam in our
colony temple. Since then this is played at low key. The Ayyappa season is another
overdose of soul-less singing by fell-fed swamis in black dresses, who disturb the
paece of the neighborhood. I do not understand why people have to use big sounds
to celebrate festivals or for praying.

Recently, a Christian family descended in my neighbor’s house. Their door was exactly
opposite my bedroom window. Sundays had become a nuisance as this family would
have a dozen visitors who would play the guitar and drums and sing carols at high-
pitched sound. I complained to the owner of the house but it did not stop. Then I
decided to take things into my hands to deal with this nuisance.

I got hold of my son’s Amazon speaker, opened my window and placed it near the
window with the direction of sound facing the door of this neighbor. All the guest
were busy singing hymns as if they were going to meet their creator the next day. I
then bluetoothed the speaker to my phone, put it on full volume and started playing
Pandit Jasraj’s Sumiran kar le. First, the door opposite my window closed. Then the
window besides the door closed. Then the singing of hymns stopped. And in fifteen
minutes, the whole gang dispersed, I am sure the bhajan was too much noise for the
twice-born, too jarring. They all just vacated the place. Thereafter, I switched off the
speaker, gave it back to my son and continued to listen to the melody on my
earphones. Since the last two months, my Sundays are blessed with zero noise. I find

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the opposite door locked. Maybe the hymns singing practice shifted to another
hapless neighborhood.

All I want to say is that people should respect others’ privacy and not cause noise
pollution. If bursting crackers during Diwali is mandated to stop by 10 am then it is
the responsibility of all decent human beings to stop bursting crackers after the
mandated time. Being civil and empathetic to other demands this. We are not living in
a desert culture.

Coming to USA, any kind of noise beyond certain decibels is not allowed. We too have
such laws and rules but we observe them in the breach. This is the difference.
229 viewsView 6 upvotes

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Riyaz Khan, Health & Wellness Consultant (2008-present)

Answered August 17, 2019

Loudspeakers are not mandated by any religion be it Islam or Hinduism or Christianity

etc.

I think all religions of India should voluntarily put a complete ban on

loudspeakers in mosques, temples, gurudwara, church.

No bhakti DJs in vehicles, no special prayers loudspeakers anywhere.

Let the Government pass a law and ensure it strictly for all. I am all for it.
256 viewsView 6 upvotes

1 comment from Abhisek Choudhury

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Asimendrakumar Dhirendrakumar Dechaudhari, former Senior

Telecom Assistant at Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (1978-2014)
Answered August 18, 2019

Azan can be sung in plain voice but not with loud speakers, five times a day as it
creates noise pollution. Similarly, all noise pollution should be controlled. Govt has
rules to control noise pollution. These rules should be implemented. Every follower
should be responsible enough to come to mosque on his own without intimation.
Non-Muslims should not be disturbed. Azan may be ok in Islamic countries.
125 viewsView 2 upvotes · Answer requested by Arvind Nath

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Harihara Nil, former Retired Engineer

Answered November 28, 2019

Azaan I understand is a call for prayer and in islam the rule is to establish comminity
prayer . The call by itself can not be considered as causing any hurt to Hindu
sensitivity . Earlier it was being uttered by voice only as loud speakers were not there .
It must be noted that Hindu also is required to start prayers , pratha dnarsna and
dhyaana, yoga daily in brahmi muhurat and as such can use the louddoesketcall call as
wake up call and a shankha nada or ghantaanada and start their brahmi muhurat
praatah prayers and other worship kriyaas . Likewise the practice of bhajans and
naama chanting in groups to be fine in brahmi muhurat and godhooli muhurat in the
roads by group of devout Hindus should also be allowed. The Christian Carol's and
sikh keertan should be too. As all these are part of hindutwa only
212 viewsView 1 upvote · Answer requested by Arvind Nath

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Ron Jefferson, Christian
Answered November 9, 2019

I don’t understand the logic behind the question. Why should India imitate the USA or
any other country for that matter. Saudi Arabia executes homosexuals. Why doesn’t
India do the same?
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9/9/21, 5:25 PM (1) Why do mosques use loudspeakers for Call to Prayer (Adhan)? Why does Hindu majority country India tolerate this when Christ…

India is a country of 1.3 billion people. The idea that we can simply ban something
that we don’t like that is dear to hundreds of millions of fellow Indians just shows a
lack of understanding of our system. Not only could we not enforce such a nationwide
ban without widespread retaliation, such a move would be deemed unconstitutional.

For all my Hindutva nationalists out there, let me be very clear. India is NOT a Hindu
country. India is a secular country made up of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains
and many others. On what basis do we have the right to specifically target Muslims for
being too loud while we blatantly ignore our own bombastic festivals?

Yes. I’m talking about Diwali. Diwali is the loudest and most obnoxious holiday that we
Indians celebrate. Those who blast window shattering eardrum exploding firecrackers
should be kicked in the cojones in my opinion. They have no self-awareness and don’t
bother about elders who might have a heart attack or people with sonophobia (like
myself).

Now, why doesn’t any Hindu complain against these people? Oh right. They are
celebrating a Hindu festival. It’s not just Diwali. If you live near a Hindu temple (there a
lot of them around), you will definitely hear Hindu chanting and prayers. Does it
bother you? Maybe or maybe not. But do you dare complain? So why is that when
Muslims decide to pray to their god, you get triggered and demand religious silence?

Im not taking sides here. I’m an Indian Christian and I have nothing against Hindus or
Muslims. I’m speaking my mind here in what I think to be an unfair prejudice against a
fraction of our fellow Indians.
346 viewsView 1 upvote

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3 answers collapsed (Why?)

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